If necessary, you can review the the IPlan Assignment sheet here. Complete the process shown in the diagram below by following the steps and answering the questions for each step.
a. Take a few minutes to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher.
Throughout my experience thus far, I have noticed some strengths in my teaching. I find that by switching up the lessons in the ninety minute block, I am able to keep my students attentive and engaged in the activity. I usually split my plans up into three separate parts, each involving a different learning style. I find that this strengthens my teaching and allows my students to apply their strengths in the classroom. I also feel that I am able to relate the topics to a real world application that makes the lesson mean more to my students. By doing this, I am able to capture the attention of the students and give them a reason to learn the topic.
There are a few aspects of my teaching that I feel that I could work on. I notice that sometimes my directions for an activity are not clear so I end up answering a lot of questions after the activity starts. By clarifying exactly what I expect out of my students, it will allow my lessons to run more smoothly and allow greater focus on the content. Also, I feel that I need to focus more on the students in my class who require more attention in order for them to learn the material. I feel that if I read over my student's IEP or 504 before each class, I will be reminded of the accommodations that need to me made and I will adjust my lesson accordingly.
b. Describe some of your students' strengths and needs that you have noticed so far.
I have noticed both strengths and needs of my students so far in my student teaching experience. When my students feel that the activity is fun, they really apply themselves to their work. When they are interested in the topic and feel that it applies to their own lives, they will work diligently and with passion for the topic. I find that when my students feel that they need to find something out for themselves, they have a better chance of learning it then when I tell them about the topic. As far as needs, the students do need for the lesson to be broken up for them. They are not as attentive when the topic does not seem to apply to their lives and they often ask why they need to know this information. Some of my students with learning disabilities need one on one attention and continuous reinforcement in order to complete their work to the best of their ability.
c. Download and complete this URI Self Evaluation form based on one of the lessons you taught last week. Be sure to write down specific evidence from either your lesson plan or your memory of your enactment for each assessment you give. Use a highlighter to identify areas of your teaching/lesson that were either below standard or that you feel needs improvement.
a. Review your school improvement document(s). (If you forgot them, download a SALT visit.)
b. Synthesize your review by completing the following table as best your can:
What is the need?
How will improvement help your students?
How will improvement help your school?
RIBT Standard/Element Addressed?
1.
Students need to be held responsible for their learning
The students will feel a need to learn and to put in the effort with their school work.
As a school, the learning environment will change for the better. Expecting students to be responsible for their own learning will promote positive attitudes and better school environment overall.
3.1, 6.7, 9.3
2.
Communication among school community
With common goals, expectations, and procedures, the students will have no question as to what is expected of them in and out of school.
Greater communication among the school community will make it easier for every teacher, student, parent, staff, etc. to do their job.
Real world connections will help the students relate to what they are learning and understand the importance and relevance of the topic.
Real world connections in the classroom will promote a positive learning environment in the school.
1.1, 4.2
4.
Students need to be challenged to a higher level of thinking
Students should constantly challenged and pushed to a higher level. This will promote greater understanding and higher expectations in the classroom.
As a school, the expectations are high. The school community will improve by holding a high set of standards of all of their students.
2.7, 5.1
Formulate a professional development goal based the needs that you have identified. This goal should be:
measurable/observable
should lead to improvement of teaching, student achievement, and/or improvement of learning environment.
should describe new knowledge or skills that you will acquire and how that knowledge/skill will affect the school/district setting.
linked to applicable Rhode Island Beginning Teacher Standards and elements, e.g. RIBTS 2.4.
In the space below, describe your professional development goal. In a second paragraph, use the information above to provide a rationale for your goal by explaining the personal need that it will address as well as how addressing this goal benefits your students and your school.
I. Professional Development Goal
The professional development goal that I will focus on is one of the recommendations from the school improvement document from the SALT visit to Exeter West Greenwich Junior High School. The need for real world connections to be made in the classroom was a weakness in the school at the time of the school visit. In my classroom, my goal is to make an effort to relate every topic that I teach to a real world application. In this way, I will contribute to the school improvement plan as well as encourage my students to acquire a certain responsibility to their own learning. This goal is measurable in the fact that I will incorporate an anecdote of some sort into each one of my lesson plans. It will not only force me as a teacher to develop lessons so that the material is relevant to the lives of my students, but it will encourage my students to relate their own life experiences to the concepts that we are learning in the classroom. This will lead to greater understanding because the students will have a real world connection to go along with their knowledge of the concepts, which will lead to greater student achievement. Rhode Island Beginning Teacher Standards 1.1 and 4.2 will be addressed in this plan. My professional development goal is to make real world connections in my classroom on a daily basis.
By addressing my professional development goal, it will benefit not only my students, but also my school community. When my students feel that what they are learning in my class is worthwhile and useful, they will encourage their peers to learn. Whether it be them sharing their experiences from my class, or them telling their friends something that they learned, the knowledge and the passion for learning will spread throughout the school. From a teachers standpoint, it will be extremely fulfilling to see my students relate what I am teaching to their own lives. I know that they will have a better chance in learning the concepts if their is a personal connection for them and my goal is to find that connection in every lesson that I teach.
Now that you have a PD goal, think about what type of learning opportunities you will participate in to address your needs. Use these links to investigate learning options:
The type of learning opportunity I will participate in in order to address the needs of my professional development goal is under the general professional development type entitled Involvement in Development/ Improvement Processes. Within this category, my plan will fall under development work, which will include development of instructional units and curricula. As a teacher, I will take this opportunity to develop my skills and work with my colleagues to come up with instruction to better our classroom teaching in the way that it will include real world connections to keep our students intrigued and constantly motivated.
Based on what you have found out, write a 1-2 paragraph narrative outlining at least two ways (PD categories) you will engage in engage in by the end of your first year of teaching. For each activity, explain how you think it will address the need that you have identified.
II. Professional Development Plan
Involvement in Development/ Improvement Processes
The main idea of my professional development goal is to incorporate real world connections into classroom activities. In order to implement my plan to do this, I will take part in development work to adapt instructional units to include real world connections as part of the instructional procedure. I will add a section to lesson plans that is entitled "make the connection" and this will require not only myself, but my fellow teachers to make that extra effort to connect the material to a life experience. I will share this idea with my colleagues and promote the addition to their own lesson plans to attempt to make this change spread throughout my school. This will hopefully allow all of the students to not only see the importance of what they are learning, but to hold themselves to a higher level of responsibility for their own learning.
Individually- Guided Professional Development
One way that I will be able to ensure the real world connections in my classroom is to not only relate the topics to current events, or new articles, but speak from real life experience, using pictures, stories, and video to make the connection. I will also be able to take my students on field trips to experience and learn or themselves. Under this professional development category, I can conduct my own research on different topics and take part in educational travel. I will be able to relate first hand to the material and teach from first hand experience, which will encourage my students to learn and experience it for themselves. By taking my students on field trips, they will see how the information that they are learning really means something in the real world and they will have a new passion for learning.
Print your PD plan to PDF
Post your PD Plan to True Outcomes
Return to True Outcomes to evaluate a peer's plan the following week.
EDC 484 IPlan Synthesis
Beth McArdle
If necessary, you can review the the IPlan Assignment sheet here. Complete the process shown in the diagram below by following the steps and answering the questions for each step.
You can review the Rhode Island Beginning Teacher Standards (RIBTs) here.
a. Take a few minutes to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher.
Throughout my experience thus far, I have noticed some strengths in my teaching. I find that by switching up the lessons in the ninety minute block, I am able to keep my students attentive and engaged in the activity. I usually split my plans up into three separate parts, each involving a different learning style. I find that this strengthens my teaching and allows my students to apply their strengths in the classroom. I also feel that I am able to relate the topics to a real world application that makes the lesson mean more to my students. By doing this, I am able to capture the attention of the students and give them a reason to learn the topic.
There are a few aspects of my teaching that I feel that I could work on. I notice that sometimes my directions for an activity are not clear so I end up answering a lot of questions after the activity starts. By clarifying exactly what I expect out of my students, it will allow my lessons to run more smoothly and allow greater focus on the content. Also, I feel that I need to focus more on the students in my class who require more attention in order for them to learn the material. I feel that if I read over my student's IEP or 504 before each class, I will be reminded of the accommodations that need to me made and I will adjust my lesson accordingly.
b. Describe some of your students' strengths and needs that you have noticed so far.
I have noticed both strengths and needs of my students so far in my student teaching experience. When my students feel that the activity is fun, they really apply themselves to their work. When they are interested in the topic and feel that it applies to their own lives, they will work diligently and with passion for the topic. I find that when my students feel that they need to find something out for themselves, they have a better chance of learning it then when I tell them about the topic. As far as needs, the students do need for the lesson to be broken up for them. They are not as attentive when the topic does not seem to apply to their lives and they often ask why they need to know this information. Some of my students with learning disabilities need one on one attention and continuous reinforcement in order to complete their work to the best of their ability.
c. Download and complete this URI Self Evaluation form based on one of the lessons you taught last week. Be sure to write down specific evidence from either your lesson plan or your memory of your enactment for each assessment you give. Use a highlighter to identify areas of your teaching/lesson that were either below standard or that you feel needs improvement.
My Observation Form:
a. Review your school improvement document(s). (If you forgot them, download a SALT visit.)
b. Synthesize your review by completing the following table as best your can:
Formulate a professional development goal based the needs that you have identified. This goal should be:
In the space below, describe your professional development goal. In a second paragraph, use the information above to provide a rationale for your goal by explaining the personal need that it will address as well as how addressing this goal benefits your students and your school.
I. Professional Development Goal
The professional development goal that I will focus on is one of the recommendations from the school improvement document from the SALT visit to Exeter West Greenwich Junior High School. The need for real world connections to be made in the classroom was a weakness in the school at the time of the school visit. In my classroom, my goal is to make an effort to relate every topic that I teach to a real world application. In this way, I will contribute to the school improvement plan as well as encourage my students to acquire a certain responsibility to their own learning. This goal is measurable in the fact that I will incorporate an anecdote of some sort into each one of my lesson plans. It will not only force me as a teacher to develop lessons so that the material is relevant to the lives of my students, but it will encourage my students to relate their own life experiences to the concepts that we are learning in the classroom. This will lead to greater understanding because the students will have a real world connection to go along with their knowledge of the concepts, which will lead to greater student achievement. Rhode Island Beginning Teacher Standards 1.1 and 4.2 will be addressed in this plan. My professional development goal is to make real world connections in my classroom on a daily basis.
By addressing my professional development goal, it will benefit not only my students, but also my school community. When my students feel that what they are learning in my class is worthwhile and useful, they will encourage their peers to learn. Whether it be them sharing their experiences from my class, or them telling their friends something that they learned, the knowledge and the passion for learning will spread throughout the school. From a teachers standpoint, it will be extremely fulfilling to see my students relate what I am teaching to their own lives. I know that they will have a better chance in learning the concepts if their is a personal connection for them and my goal is to find that connection in every lesson that I teach.
Now that you have a PD goal, think about what type of learning opportunities you will participate in to address your needs. Use these links to investigate learning options:
The type of learning opportunity I will participate in in order to address the needs of my professional development goal is under the general professional development type entitled Involvement in Development/ Improvement Processes. Within this category, my plan will fall under development work, which will include development of instructional units and curricula. As a teacher, I will take this opportunity to develop my skills and work with my colleagues to come up with instruction to better our classroom teaching in the way that it will include real world connections to keep our students intrigued and constantly motivated.
Based on what you have found out, write a 1-2 paragraph narrative outlining at least two ways (PD categories) you will engage in engage in by the end of your first year of teaching. For each activity, explain how you think it will address the need that you have identified.
II. Professional Development Plan
Involvement in Development/ Improvement Processes
The main idea of my professional development goal is to incorporate real world connections into classroom activities. In order to implement my plan to do this, I will take part in development work to adapt instructional units to include real world connections as part of the instructional procedure. I will add a section to lesson plans that is entitled "make the connection" and this will require not only myself, but my fellow teachers to make that extra effort to connect the material to a life experience. I will share this idea with my colleagues and promote the addition to their own lesson plans to attempt to make this change spread throughout my school. This will hopefully allow all of the students to not only see the importance of what they are learning, but to hold themselves to a higher level of responsibility for their own learning.
Individually- Guided Professional Development
One way that I will be able to ensure the real world connections in my classroom is to not only relate the topics to current events, or new articles, but speak from real life experience, using pictures, stories, and video to make the connection. I will also be able to take my students on field trips to experience and learn or themselves. Under this professional development category, I can conduct my own research on different topics and take part in educational travel. I will be able to relate first hand to the material and teach from first hand experience, which will encourage my students to learn and experience it for themselves. By taking my students on field trips, they will see how the information that they are learning really means something in the real world and they will have a new passion for learning.